Plastic clip

ABSTRACT

A molded plastic hanger and a clip for use therewith or with other members. The hanger includes a body portion having a diverging pair of arms including slots therein and a crossbar for mounting garment holding clips. A plastic swivel hook is connected to the body portion at a stem. The stem includes a shaft having an annular locking recess in its periphery which is adapted to be received within a mating socket of the hook to connect the hook and body portion to each other while enabling them to be swiveled readily with respect to each other. The clip is arranged for securement to the crossbar of the hanger or to any other rod-like element and is formed of a three piece construction comprising a pair of plastic jaws and a resilient U-shaped member, also formed of plastic, but having a higher tensile strength and resiliency than the plastic of the jaws.

This invention relates generally to garment hangers and particularly tomolded plastic hangers and clips for use thereon, as well as for otheruses.

Commercially available hangers are frequently fabricated of plasticmaterial since such hangers can be made relatively inexpensively ascompared to wooden hangers, yet are substantially more durable than wirehangers.

Conventional commercially available plastic hangers commonly comprise aplastic body portion and a metal hook. The hook may be pivotally securedto the body to enable the body to swivel with respect to the hook.Examples of hanger structures including a plastic body and a metalsuspending hook are found in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,406,883 (Crane),3,282,481 (Maxwell), and 3,407,979 (Patch). All-plastic garment hangersare also commercially available and many have been disclosed in thepatent literature. For example, the following United States patentsdisclose hangers entirely formed of a plastic material: 3,067,917(Reller, et al.), 3,116,860 (Urich), 3,209,966 (Wach), 3,463,369(Moskowitz), 3,570,729 (Zuckerman), 3,897,893 (Lemmenes), 3,963,154(Schwartz, et al), 3,973,705 (Erthein), 4,040,546 (Liebscher), and4,074,838 (Blasnik, et al). Among the aforementioned patents, thepatents to Schwartz, et al, Liebscher and Blasnik, et al, each discloseall-plastic hangers having swivel hooks.

Conventional garment hangers also frequently include pinch-type jawclips arranged to be located at various positions along a cross-bar tohold trousers or skirts on the hanger. Examples of such hangers arefound in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,378,578 (Oskow), 2,496,531 (Gray), 2,546,717(Beetlestone, et al), 2,617,568 (Pechtel), and 3,950,829 (Cohen).

While the aforeidentified plastic hangers do achieve various designgoals, such hangers nevertheless suffer from one or more drawbacks, suchas complexity of construction, difficulty of assembly, limited utility,limited durability and ruggedness.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the instant invention to providean entirely plastic hanger and an entirely plastic clip, each of whichcan be used independently of one another and which overcomes thedisadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an entirelyplastic hanger having a freely swivelable suspender hook.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an entirelyplastic hanger which is low in cost and can be readily assembled.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an entirelyplastic hanger having the capability of holding various types ofgarments.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide anentirely plastic hanger having wide utility and constructed to have anaesthetically pleasing, modern, tubular appearance.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide anentirely plastic clip which can be used with said hanger, withconventional hangers or on any rod-like element and which overcomes thedisadvantages of the prior art.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide anentirely plastic clip which is low in cost and can be readily assembled.

These and other objects of the instant invention are achieved byproviding an all-plastic hanger with a swivel hook and all-plastic clipswith both the hanger and the clips being usable independently of theother. The hanger includes an integral body portion and hook meansconnected thereto for supporting the body portion. The body portionincludes a neck portion, a pair of arms diverging outwardly therefromand a cross-bar portion interconnecting the outer ends of the arms.

The body portion and the hook means are each substantially cylindricalin cross-section along their entire length. The hook means includes anarcuate upper portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portionincludes a cylindrical socket having a longitudinal axis. The neckportion includes a cylindrical shaft disposed and locked within saidsocket for swiveling about the longitudinal axis. The socket includes aperipheral collar projecting radially inward and about the longitudinalaxis and the shaft includes a mating annular recess for receipt of thecollar to lock the shaft within the socket and enable the body portionand hook means to be swiveled with respect to each other.

The clip is arranged for ready assembly and releasable securement to thecross-bar of the hanger or to any other rod-like element having alongitudinal axis. The clip comprises a pair of jaws formed of a firstplastic material and resilient bias means formed of a second plasticmaterial. The second material has a higher tensile strength than thefirst material. Each of the jaws is a generally planar member comprisingan enlarged first end portion defining a finger grasping opening, anintermediate portion, and a second end portion including a projectionextending normally to the plane of the jaw member. The intermediateportion includes an arcuate recess for receipt of a portion of theperiphery of the cross-bar or other rod-like element. The bias means isa generally U-shaped member having a pair of outwardly flared legs, eachof which is arranged to engage a respective one of the jaws to hold thejaws on the cross-bar or rod-like element so that the clips can bereadily slid therealong and pivoted thereabout.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the instantinvention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an all-plastic hanger constructed in accordancewith one aspect of the instant invention and including an all-plasticclip constructed in accordance with another aspect of the instantinvention and mounted on the hanger;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partially in section, showing a portion ofthe hanger within the area 2 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clip of the instant invention shownmounted on a rod-like element, such as a portion of the hanger shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the clip.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingwherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at20 a hanger constructed in accordance with one aspect of the instantinvention and a clip 200 constructed in accordance with another aspectof the instant invention.

It must be pointed out at this juncture that while the clip 200 is shownmounted on the hanger 20 in FIG. 1, either the hanger 20 or the clip 200can be used independently of one another. To that end, the hanger 20 maybe used without any clip thereon, may be used with suitably constructedprior art clips, or may be used with the clip 200. The clip 200 may beused with the hanger of this invention, with prior art garment hangers,or with any structural body having a rod-like element or portion onwhich it is desired to position a clip for longitudinal movementtherealong and swiveling movement thereabout. The clip may even be usedon a flexible member having a cylindrical surface portion, e.g., aclothesline.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 the hanger 20 basically comprises a bodyportion 22 and hook means 24 connected thereto for supporting orsuspending the body portion from a support (not shown). The hook 24, aswill be described in detail later, is connected to the body portion sothat they can be swiveled freely through an angle of 360° with respectto each other.

In accordance with the preferred aspect of the instant invention, theentire hanger 20 is substantially cylindrical in cross-section (see FIG.3) to provide an aesthetically pleasing, modern, tubular appearancewhich is now highly desired by the consuming public.

The body portion 22 basically comprises an upstanding neck or stemportion 26, a pair of arms 28, and a cross-bar 30. The arms 28 areconnected together at the stem 26 and diverge downward and outwardtherefrom. Each arm 28 is joined to a respective end of the cross-bar 30at a rounded shoulder 32.

As is conventional, the diverging arms 28 serve as a means forsupporting a jacket or other similarly constructed garment on thehanger. In order to support dresses or other garments having straps,each arm 28 includes a slot 34 disposed parallel to the arm itself andhaving a narrow mouth 36. Each slot is formed by a pair of downwardextensions 38 and a cross-piece 40. A small hook 42 projects outwardfrom the extension 38 which is immediately adjacent the shoulder 32. Thehook 42 serves as a convenient means for holding the straps of delicategarments. The cross-sectional area of the body portion 20 of the hangeris cylindrical throughout its entire length except for the portionforming the hook 42, which portion is, while also cylindrical, is ofsubstantially smaller cross-sectional area and diameter.

The body portion 22 is molded as an integral unit of a low cost plasticwhich is strong, lightweight, and durable, such as polypropylene.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the suspender hook 24 includes an arcuateupper portion 44, an intermediate portion 46 and a connecting portion48. The connecting portion 48 is arranged to connect the hook 24 to thebody 22 to enable the body to be supported by the hook, yet be swiveledfreely about the longitudinal axis 50 of the stem 26.

Turning to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the connecting portion 48includes a socket 52 located therein. The socket 52 is in the form of acylindrical bore which is coaxial with the axis 50 and includes aperipheral collar 54 projecting radially inward toward the axis 50. Thecollar 54 merges with the remaining portion of the socket via a pair oftapered surfaces 56. The stem portion 26 of the body of the hangerincludes a smaller diameter shaft 58 extending coaxially with the axis50. The shaft 58 includes an annular recess 60 about its periphery andwhich mates with the collar 54. The outside diameter of the shaft 58 isjust slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the socket so that theshaft 58 can be snap-fit within the socket and with the peripheralcollar 54 being located within the annular recess 60. Like the bodyportion 20, the hook 24 is also formed as an integral unit of a plastic,and is preferably the same plastic as that of the body portion. The useof a somewhat resilient plastic, such as polypropylene, enables theshaft to be readily inserted and snap-fit within the socket, thusfacilitating the assembly of the hanger.

When the shaft 58 is snap-fit within the socket 52, the hook and bodycan be freely swiveled manually with respect to each other through thefull 360° about axis 50, yet there is sufficient frictional engagementto prevent accidental swiveling.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is shown the details of the clip 200.As can be seen, the clip 200 basically comprises a pair of jaws 202 andresilient bias means 204 for connecting the jaws to one another. Each ofthe jaws is formed of a plastic masterial which is low in cost,lightweight, durable and resilient. The biasing means 204 is also formedof a plastic material but which preferably exhibits a higher tensilestrength and resiliency than the material forming the jaws 202. Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the clip, the jaws 202 areformed of polypropylene, like the hanger 20 described heretofore, whilethe resilient means 204 comprises polycarbonate, such as sold under theGeneral Electric Company Trademark "LEXAN".

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, each jaw 202 is formed as asubstantially planar loop and includes an enlarged first end portion206, an intermediate portion 208 and a narrow second end portion 210.The jaws 202 are arranged to be disposed side-by-side, with a rod-likeelement, such as crossbar 30, forming a fulcrum therebetween, and withthe bias means 204 encircling a portion of the opposed jaws and rod-likeelement to hold the clip together. The opposed end portions 210 form amouth for the clip which can be opened to receive a garment. The mouthis opened by grasping the clip by its end portions 206 and squeezingthose portions toward each other against the bias force of bias means204. Upon release of the portions 206, the bias means 204 pivots thejaws back together to effect the holding of a garment tightly betweenthe opposed jaw ends 210.

The precise details of the clip 200 and the manner of assembly anddisassembly thereof, will now be described. To that end, as can be seenin FIG. 5, the enlarged end portion 206 of each jaw is of generallyring-like construction and includes a central opening 212. The centralopening is suitably dimensioned to enable a user's fingers to becomfortably received therein, but not extend therethrough, so that thejaws can be grasped comfortably to facilitate the opening of the clip.The second end portion 210 of each jaw is generally linear and includesa semi-cylindrical free end projection 214 projecting inward normallytherefrom. The opposed free end projections 214 each include a pluralityof ridges 216 extending across the full width thereof and are adapted tobe the portions of the clip which actually engage the garment tosecurely hold the garment therebetween under the bias force provided bythe bias means 204. The ridges increase frictional engagement betweenthe clip and the garment.

The intermediate portion 208 of each jaw includes a wedge portion 218projecting inward, i.e., in the same direction as the projection 214.The wedge portion 218 includes an arcuate recess 220 which is suitablyconfigured to receive a portion of the periphery of the cross-bar 30 orany other element having a circular surface.

The outside of the intermediate portion of each jaw includes an inclinedor ramp surface portion 222 extending downwardly from the edge of thearcuate recess 220 to a planar surface 224 of the end 210. A lockingslot or recess 26 is located on the outside of the jaw on the planarsurface portion 224. Each locking recesses 226 is adapted to receive arespective end of the bias means 204 to secure the two jaws and the biasmeans to each other on the element 30.

The resilient bias means 204 is of generally U-shape having a pair ofoutwardly flaring legs 228 and an arcuate mid-portion 230. Each of thelegs termiantes at its free end in an enlarged semi-circular projection232 which is adpted to be received within a respective one of the slots226 in the jaws 202.

The assembly of the clip 200 is as follows: The pair of jaws 202 arelocated opposite to each other on the cross-bar 30 of the hanger 20, oron any other suitably configured rod-like element, with the portion ofthe cross bar positioned within the opening formed by the respectivearcuate recesses 220 in the opposed jaws. The U-shaped bias means 204 isthen slipped about the cross-bar 30 so that the projections 232 engagethe inclined surfaces 222 of the jaws. By pushing on the arcuate portion230 of the resilient means 204 toward the jaw ends 210, the bias meansslides toward those ends, with the portions 232 of the bias means ridingup the inclined surfaces 222 until such portions reach the slots 226 inthe planar portion 224. When this occurs, the projections 232 snap intothe slots 226, thereby locking the bias means 204 in place and forming acentral, circular shaped opening 234 (FIG. 4) in which the crossbar 30is journalled. Once the clip components are secured, as just described,there is sufficient frictional engagement between the arcuate surfaces220 and the periphery of the cross-bar 30 to insure that the clip can bereadily slid therealong, when desired, but is resistant to accidentalsliding. Moreover, the clip can be pivoted through an arc of 360° aboutthe longitudinal axis of the cross-bar 30, since the cross-bar isjournalled within opening 234 of the clip.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the combined angular extent of the two arcuaterecesses 220 is substantially less than 360° to enable the clip's mouthto be opened sufficiently wide to accommodate a wide variety ofgarments. The acruate mid-portion 230 of the clip prevents the jaws fromfalling off of the crossbar when the clip is fully closed.

If it is desired to remove the clip 200 from the cross-bar 30, all thatis required is to grasp the legs 228 of the resilient means 204 toextract the projections 232 from the recesses 226, whereupon the clipcan be retracted by pulling its mid-portion 230 away from the mouth ofthe clip. Such action is facilitated by the inclined surfaces 222 whichserve as downwardly extending ramps for the bias member 204 as it isretracted.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing, the hanger 20 and the clip200 of the instant invention each are simple in construction, can bemade at low cost, can be readily assembled and disassembled, and providethe aesthetically pleasing tubular appearance so highly desired in themarket place at present.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate ourinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

We claim:
 1. A clip arranged for ready assembly and releasablesecurement on a rod-like element of a first predetermined diameter andhaving a longitudinal axis, said clip comprising a pair of jaws formedof a first plastic material and resilient bias means formed ofpolycarbonate and having higher tensile strength and resiliency thansaid first material, each of said jaws being a generally planar memberand comprising an elongated first end portion defining a finger graspingopening, an intermediate portion, and a second end portion including aprojection extending at an angle to the plane of said jaw member, saidintermediate portion including an arcuate recess therein for closereceipt of a portion of the periphery of said rod-like element when saidclip is assembled thereon, said bias means being a generally U-shapedmember having a pair of outwardly flared legs each terminating in a freeend and an arcuate intermediate portion defining a recess having a firstpredetermined diameter, the free ends of said bias means being spacedapart by a distance greater than the diameter of said recess to enablesaid bias means to be readily secured to said jaws, with each of saidlegs overlying and engaging a respective one of said jaws adjacent saidintermediate portion and with the recess in said arcuate portioncoacting with the recess in each of said jaws to form a substantiallycircular opening closely receiving a portion of said rod-like membertherein to complete the assembly of said clip by holding said jaws onsaid rod-like member and whereupon said clip can be readily slidtherealong and pivoted thereabout with said rod-like element acting as afulcrum.
 2. The clip of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portionincludes an inclined surface terminating in a locking recess and whereineach leg of said bias means includes an enlarged free end which isarranged to slide along said surface and into said recess to facilitatethe assembly of said clip.
 3. The clip of claim 1 wherein each of saidjaws is in the form of a planar loop.
 4. The clip of claim 1 whereinsaid first plastic material is polypropylene.
 5. The clip of claim 4wherein said rod-lik element comprises a portion of a garment hanger. 6.The clip of claim 5 wherein said rod-like element is formed ofpolypropylene. .Iadd.
 7. A clip arranged for ready assembly on arod-like element of a first predetermined diameter, said clip comprisinga pair of jaws formed of a first plastic material and resilient biasmeans formed of a second plastic material having a higher tensilestrength and greater resiliency than said first plastic material, eachof said jaws including a generally planar member comprising a first endportion, an intermediate portion, and a second end portion including aprojection extending at an angle to the plane of said planar member,said intermediate portion having an outer inclined surface, and saidfirst end portions being movable relative to each other by a user formoving said second end portions relative to each other from a normallyclosed position to an opened position, said resilient bias means, in anunbiased state thereof, being a generally U-shaped member having a pairof outwardly flared legs each terminating in a free end and an arcuateintermediate portion defining a recess having a first predetermineddiameter, the free ends of said bias means being spaced apart by adistance greater than the diameter of said recess, said spaced- apartdistance permitting the free ends of the bias means in said unbiasedstate to engage the inclined outer surfaces of the intermediate portionsof the jaws to enable said bias means to be readily manually secured ina biased state to said jaws by sliding said legs along said inclinedsurfaces into said biased state, each of said legs overlying andengaging a respective one of said jaws adjacent said intermediateportion for holding said jaws together and biasing said second endportions into said normally closed position, said intermediate portionof each of the jaws also including an arcuate recess therein for closelyreceiving a portion of the periphery of said rod-like element when saidresilient bias means is assembled with said jaws, the recess defined bythe arcuate intermediate portion of said bias means coacting with therecesses in the intermediate portions of the jaws to form an arcuateopening closely receiving a portion of said rod-like element therein,said first end portions and said second end portions of said jaws beingmovable relative to each other on an outer peripheral surface of saidrod-like element. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 8. The clip of claim 7 characterizedin that said inclined surface of each jaw terminates in a locking recessand wherein each leg of said bias means includes an enlarged free endwhich is arranged to slide along said surface and into said lockingrecess to facilitate the assembly of said clip. .Iaddend.